Equipment system for use in a ball throwing game

ABSTRACT

An system of equipment for use in playing games in which pairs of balls that are tethered together are thrown from a distance at horizontal crossbars with the objective of looping sets of balls around the crossbars. The system includes a support stand having several detachable components including the horizontal crossbars that act as the targets in the game, vertical columns that support the crossbars, and a base including support members having support legs for supporting the vertical columns and crossbars. Each vertical column comprises a pair of matching rectangular indent bars joined together with a rectangular shaped in-line connector. The crossbars are constructed of D-shaped tubing and the indent bars have reinforcing ribs that provide added strength and stability to the assembly. The tethered balls are comprised of a soft vinyl material and each pair is connected by a short rope the ends of which are glued into place inside of the balls.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/707,828 filed on Aug. 12, 2005, which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to games of skill in which objects arethrown or tossed at targets and more particularly to the construction ofthe equipment including the targets and balls for use in such games.

The lawn or yard game often referred to as “LadderBall”, but also knownas “Bolo Ball”, “Ladder Golf”, “Hilly Billy Horseshoes” or “Polish Golf”and by other names, involves tossing pairs of tethered balls at a set ofhorizontal rungs on a support stand. The balls are usually tethered by ashort piece of rope or cord that is 8-12 inches in length. The rungsthat are used as the target are usually about 24 inches across and arepositioned at vertical heights of approximately 36 inches, 24 inches and12 inches above the ground. The rungs are supported by vertical columnson either side of the bars that extend upward from a base platform.

In normal play a pair of participants, or teams in a LadderBall game,each toss three of the sets of tethered balls toward the target rungsfrom a 20-40 foot distance and are awarded 3 points for looping a set ofballs around the top bar, 2 points for looping a set of balls around themiddle bar, and 1 point for looping a set of balls around the lowestbar. Once both individuals or teams has completed tossing their balls,the individual or team with the highest score is awarded those pointsless the total points of the lower scoring individual or team. The gameprogresses until one individual or team reaches a total score of 21.This score must be attained exactly, and if the score exceeds 21 pointsthe individual or team so doing must subtract the last score from thetotal and continue play until one team achieves exactly 21 points.

The successful practice of this game requires a support stand includingthe three target bars that is inexpensive to construct, sturdy,lightweight and capable of being readily disassembled into a compactform for convenient storage and transport. Further, the tethered ballsmust be strongly connected and rugged yet large enough, light enough andsoft enough to not be a safety hazard in case any of the participantsare accidentally struck by one of the balls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an equipment system for use in playinggames of LadderBall including a design for a support stand havinghorizontal crossbars for use as targets and a construction for pairs oftethered balls to be thrown at the crossbar targets with the objectiveof entangling the balls on the crossbars. The support stand comprisesseveral detachable components including three horizontal crossbars thatact as targets, two vertical support columns, two horizontal floorsupports and a fourth ground-level crossbar that helps connect thevertical columns and floor supports. Each vertical column comprises tworeinforced rectangular indent bars joined together with a hollowrectangular shaped in-line connector. Each floor support comprises twosupport legs connected at a three way T-joint that also connects thefloor support to one of the columns. The crossbars used as targets inthe game extend between the vertical columns at different spaced apartlevels. Each of the components is constructed of High DensityPolystyrene. The fourth crossbar that extends between the columns andfloor supports at ground level serves to reinforce the assembly. Thedesign of each component is unique in combining light construction withsturdiness, durability and functionality. In particular, the crossbarsare constructed of D-shaped tubing and the indent bars havereinforcements or cross ribs and X-shaped reinforcing ribs that provideadded strength and stability to the assembly when in use. The design ofthe support stand with these crossbars, indent bars and floor supportscreates a rugged game stand. The tethered balls are connected by a shortrope or cord about twelve inches in length. Each end of the cord isinserted into a small cavity in the ball along with a plug. The end ofthe rope and plug are glued in place with adhesive. The ball is sized tobe about as large as a standard tennis ball and is composed of softvinyl material with a dimpled surface.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an equipment systemthat enables a LadderBall type game to be simply and easily assembledand disassembled into a compact and easily stored form.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an equipmentsystem for a LadderBall type game that provides lightweight and compactcomponents that are easily transported and stored and yet at the sametime are rugged and sturdy in operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an equipmentsystem for a LadderBall type game or similar game in which thecomponents are as safe as possible for use by adults and children.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings in which like reference numbers are intended to refer to likeelements.

FIG. 1 provides an overall perspective view of the equipment system ofthe present invention as it might appear during use.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of the main T-joint and in-linecoupler components of the present invention as connected in place duringuse of the invention.

FIG. 3 provides a detailed cross-sectional view of the crossbar andcolumn based crossbar fittings of the present invention as connectedtogether during use of the invention

FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of one of the indent bar componentsin accordance with the present invention shoeing its rectangular shape,its X-shaped reinforcements and its fittings for connecting withcrossbars.

FIG. 5 provides a close-up perspective of one of the in-line couplercomponents of the present invention for connecting indent bars to makevertical columns.

FIG. 6 provides a close-up perspective of one of the T-joint componentsof the present invention for coupling support legs to the indent barswhich make up the vertical columns.

FIG. 7 provides a close-up perspective view of one of the crossbarcomponents or support leg components of the present invention.

FIG. 8 provides an overall perspective view of a set of tethered ballsin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 provides an exploded view of one of the balls of a set oftethered balls showing how the rope or cord is adhered to the ballthrough the use of a plug in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 provides a detailed cross-sectional view of the top of one ofthe balls of a set of tethered balls showing how the rope or cord isadhered to the ball in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, the equipment system 10 includes a supportstand 20 that is about 39 inches high for supporting the bars that serveas targets in the game and several sets or pairs 50 a and 50 b oftethered balls that are about the size of tennis balls that are intendedto be thrown at the targets. The support stand 20 includes spaced aparthorizontal crossbars 22 a-22 d that serve as targets during game playand vertical columns 24 a and 24 b that are connected to and support thecrossbars 22 a-22 c. The vertical columns 24 a and 24 b includerectangular indent bars 26 a-26 d that are connected together by in-linecouplers 28 a and 28 b. The indent bars 26 a-26 b include spaced apartfittings 30 for connecting with and securing the crossbars 22 a-22 d.The indent bars 26 a and 26 c have a top orientation while the indentbars 26 b and 26 d have a bottom orientation which allows the bars 26 aand 26 b to properly form the column 24 a and the bars 26 c and 26 d toproperly form the column 24 b with the all the flats 70 a (see FIG. 3)on all the fittings 30 oriented downward. The support stand 10 furtherincludes a base 32 including horizontal support members 32 a and 32 b.The support members 32 a and 32 b include the support legs 34 a-34 dthat are connected by the three way T-joints 36 a and 36 b that alsoconnect to and support the lower indent bars 26 b and 26 d of thevertical columns 24 a and 24 b. The end caps 35 protect the ends of thesupport legs 34 a-34 d. All of the components of the support stand 20are made of polystyrene plastic. The tethered ball sets 50 a and 50 binclude balls 52 a and 52 b that are connected by the cords 54 a and 54b. The balls 52 a and 52 b are made of soft vinyl plastic while theconnecting ropes are made of nylon.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the vertical column 24 a comprises arectangular top oriented indent bar 26 a and a rectangular shaped bottomindent bar 26 b connected together at the in-line coupler 28 a with theopen ends 60 of the indent bars being press fitted into opposite ends 64a and 64 b of the coupler 28 a. The far end 68 of the column 24 a isconnected with the T-joint 36 a at the rectangular fitting 42 where itis also press fitted in place. The support legs 34 a and 34 b are alsoconnected to the T-joint 36 a by being pressed into the two fittings 40.The ground level crossbar 22 b is similarly connected to the T-joint 36a by being press fitted into the lower fitting 30 on the indent bar 26 bin proximity to the T-joint 36 a.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the connection 66 shows an interference fitbetween a crossbar 22 d and a fitting 30 that is representative of allthe joints formed by the crossbars 22 a-22 d and support legs 34 a-34 dwhich are press fitted into fittings 30 and 40 to form connectionsbetween the crossbars 22 a-22 d and indent bars 26 a-26 d and thesupport legs 34 a-34 d and the T-joints 36 a and 36 b. Both the crossbar22 d and the fitting 30 have a D-shaped cross section characterized bymatching flats 70 a and 70 b that imparts strength and stability to thejoints which they form.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the indent bar 26 a is generally typical of allthe indent bars 26 a-26 d and comprises an elongated bar having arectangular cross section. The indent bar also includes eight boxsections including cross ribs 75 and X-shaped reinforcing ribs 72running up and down its length for providing strength and stability tothe assembled support stand 20. Since the bar 26 a has a top orientationit includes an open end 62 for mating with the coupler 28 a, twofittings 30 having flats 70 a facing downward toward the open end 60 ofthe bar and a far end 68 comprising the top of the column 24 a. Incontrast an indent bar such as bar 26 b having a bottom orientationwould include an open end 62 for similarly mating with the coupler 28 a,two fittings 30 having flats 70 a facing downward toward the far end 68of the bar for connecting with the crossbars 22 c and 22 d and a far end68 for connecting up with the T-joint 36 a.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the in-line coupler 28 a is also representativeof the coupler 28 b and includes ends 64 a and 64 b which can be matedwith the open ends 60 of separate indent bars to form extended verticalcolumns. As shown by the phantom lines 62 the ends of the coupler 28 aare hollow to allow entry but not passage by the ends of indent barswhich can then be press fitted into place to form joints by interferencefit with the coupler.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the three way T-joint 36 a is alsorepresentative of the T-joint 36 b and includes a rectangular fitting 42on its top for connecting with an indent bar and a pair of D-shapedfittings 40 along opposite sides for connecting with ground levelsupport legs 34 a and 34 b. As shown the fittings 40 and 42 are hollowto allow entry but not passage by an indent bar or support leg,respectively, and the formation of a secure joint by interference fit.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the crossbar 22 a is representative of all thecrossbars 22 a-22 d and comprises a hollow elongate cylinder having aradial flat 70 b on one side running axially down its length.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the set 50 a of tethered balls is typical ofall sets of tethered balls and includes the balls 52 and a short pieceof rope or cord 54 that runs between and connects the balls. The rope 54is generally about one-quarter inch in thickness and separates the ballsby about 12 inches. The balls 52 are made of soft vinyl material and areabout the size of standard tennis balls. The balls are preferablydimpled along their exterior surfaces to provide a pleasing appearanceand for them to be more easily grasped during game play. The balls mayalso be weighted with about 100 grams of extra filling material such assand so as to be about the same weight as standard golf balls.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the rope 54 is connected to the ball 52by being inserted into the ball 52 and secured in place by an adhesivejoint 76 formed between a plug 78 and a cavity 80 in the ball. Duringmanufacture the end 74 of the rope 54 is passed through a hole 84 in theplug 78 and is formed into a knot 86 on its far end. The end 74 of therope or cord and the knot 86 are then inserted within the ball 52 andthe plug is glued into place along the sides of the cavity 80 with anadhesive 88. The two ends 74 of the rope 54 are secured within differentballs to form a tethered set of balls such as set 50 a.

In use the stand 20 is assembled from its components. The verticalcolumns 24 a and 24 b are formed from the indent bars 26 a-26 d andcouplers 28 a and 28 b. The base 32 is formed from the support legs 34a-34 d and T-joints 36 a and 36 b. The vertical columns 24 a and 24 bare connected up with support members 32 a and 32 b of the base 32 atthe fittings 42 and the crossbars are connected between the columns 24 aand 24 b at the fittings 30. LadderBall game play may then be undertakenwith the tethered balls being thrown at the target crossbars by theplayers in accordance with the rules adopted for the game by thecontestants.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to thespecific embodiments described above, it should be recognized thatchanges may be made in the form and details of the invention asdescribed without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the claims and the equipment system may be used in playingother games besides LadderBall.

1. A support stand for use in a game in which pairs of balls that aretethered together by a short cord are thrown from a distance at a set ofhorizontal bars with the objective of entangling the balls on one of thehorizontal bars, comprising: a) a set of horizontal crossbars; b) a pairof vertical columns each of which comprises a plurality of indent barsjoined together by one or more in-line couplers and including fittingsfor connecting with and supporting said crossbars; and c) a pair ofhorizontal floor supports each of which comprises a plurality of supportlegs and a T-joint for joining said support legs together and connectingthem to one of said vertical columns.
 2. The support stand of claim 1,in which: said crossbars are D-shaped and said fittings are D-shaped forconnecting with said crossbars.
 3. The support stand of claim 1, inwhich: said indent bars are rectangular and include a plurality ofbuilt-in X-shaped reinforcing ribs.
 4. The support stand of claim 1, inwhich: said crossbars are D-shaped and said indent bars include X-shapedreinforcing ribs.
 5. A system for providing a target for use in a gamein which pairs of balls that are tethered together by a short cord arethrown from a distance at a set of horizontal bars with the objective ofentangling the balls on one of the horizontal bars, comprising: a) a setof horizontally inclined crossbars; b) a pair of vertically inclinedrectangular indent bars having built in reinforcing ribs and includingfittings for connecting with and supporting said crossbars; and c) abase comprising a plurality of horizontally inclined support legs and apair of T-joint for joining said support legs together and connectingthem to said vertical indent bars.
 6. The system of claim 5, in which:said crossbars are D-shaped and said fittings are D-shaped forconnecting with said crossbars.
 7. The system of claim 5, in which: saidset of horizontally inclined crossbars includes three target crossbarsand a reinforcing crossbar extending between said indent bars.
 8. Anequipment system for use in a game in which pairs of balls that aretethered together by a short cord are thrown from a distance at a set ofhorizontal bars with the objective of entangling the balls on one of thehorizontal bars, comprising: a) a set of horizontally inclined spacedapart crossbars; b) a pair of vertical columns for connecting with andsupporting said crossbars; c) a horizontal base having support legs forconnecting with and supporting said vertical columns; d) a plurality ofsets of tethered balls each set of which includes two balls, a cordhaving two ends for connecting said balls together and two couplings forenabling the ends of said cord to be fitted into and connected to saidballs by adhesive.
 9. The system of claim 8, in which: said balls arecomprised of a soft vinyl plastic material.
 10. The system of claim 9,in which: said balls are approximately the size of standard tennisballs.
 11. The system of claim 8, in which: said couplings compriseplugs which fit into said balls, and said balls are weighted.
 12. Thesystem of claim 8, in which: said columns are rectangular and include aplurality of built-in X-shaped reinforcing ribs.
 13. The system of claim8, in which: said crossbars are D-shaped and said columns includeD-shaped fittings for connecting with said crossbars.
 14. The system ofclaim 8, in which: said vertical columns comprise a plurality of indentbars joined together by one or more in-line couplers and includingfittings for connecting with and supporting said crossbars.